Tissue culture antiviral processes and compositions

Abstract

Nutrient, such as fetal calf serum, for tissue culture medium comprising serum and one or more glycyrrhizic triterpenoid compounds and delipidated albumin to inactivate BVD, CMV and other susceptible viruses and processes of protecting tissue cultures from viral infection are disclosed.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A method for treating tissue culture medium comprising mixing such tissue culture medium with a composition consisting essentially of one or more glycyrrhizic triterpenoid compounds in a concentration of from about 0.0001 to about 5 wt/% based on culture medium and from about five to about one hundred times that amount of delipidated albumin, the concentration being sufficient to substantially inactivate susceptible viruses found in animal fluids and tissues. 
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1 comprising the further step of maintaining the tissue culture medium at a temperature of from about 37 Deg. C. to about 60 Deg. C. for a period of up to about 24 hours to assure at least a 3-log inactivation of virus in the tissue culture medium. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 1 comprising mixing said glycyrrhizic triterpenoid compounds with the culture medium in an amount sufficient to form a concentration of from about 0.001 to about 3 wt/% in the tissue culture medium. 
     
     
       4. A composition of matter consisting essentially of tissue culture medium, one or more glycyrrhizic triterpenoid compounds in a concentration of from about 0.0001 to about 5 wt/% based on tissue culture and from about five to about one hundred times that amount of delipidated albumin from a source other than the tissue culture medium, sufficient to substantially inactivate susceptible viruses found in said tissue culture medium. 
     
     
       5. In the process of producing biologically or genetically engineered materials from a cell line in a nutrient medium, the improvement comprising adding to said nutrient medium from about 0.0001 wt/% to about 10 wt/% of one or more glycyrrhizic triterpenoid compounds effective to substantially inactivate susceptible virus said glycyrrhizic triterpenoid compound having been combined with delipidated albumin before addition to said nutrient medium to enhance the viral inactivation. 
     
     
       6. Nutrient for tissue culture medium consisting essentially of serum and a composition consisting essentially of one or more glycyrrhizic triterpenoid compounds in a concentration of from about 0.05 wt/% to about 10 wt/% and delipidated albumin from a source other than the tissue culture medium.